Air bubbles in pump basket/losing prime

[VA]

I have a 33,000 Gal in-ground gunnite pool, a Triton II sand filter, Sta-Rite Dyna-Glas 1 1/2 HP pump. When operating the pump with both the skimmers and main drain open, there are air bubbles in the pump basket and I lose prime when I shut the pump off. I noticed yesterday that if I close the skimmer line, the pump basket has no bubbles, and I am able to start the pump without the need to prime.

In reviewing other posts and comments, I understand that air is getting in the line. There are a couple of points where water drips from the plumbing and pump basket. Would these be the source of the air leaks? If so, I don't understand why I don't have the loss of prime issue when only the main line is open.

Any thoughts and advice will be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Bama Rambler]

It sounds like your skimmer is sucking in air.
Is the weir working freely and properly?
Is the skimmer creating a vortex and sucking in air?

 

[VA]

One of the skimmers did start swirling and sucking water yesterday when I was trying to restart after losing prime. This is what prompted me to turn off the skimmers, and learned that with the main line only open, I didn't have air in the lines.

Weir? Are you talking about the skimmer flaps/doors?

 

[duraleigh]

Weir? Are you talking about the skimmer flaps/doors?

Yes.

What bama is also saying is your pool water is too low and air is being sucked into the system through the skimmers. Filling your pool up about an inch higher will cure it.

 

[Bama Rambler]

Yes the weirs (flappers) need to be in place and working freely. And as Dave said, even if they're working correctly the water needs to be more than half way up the skimmer on some pools.

 

[HouTex]

This happened to me and the problem was that the skimmer door (weir?) was getting stuck and not allowing water to freely enter the skimmer. There was some dried cement (gunite or grout) on the edges of the door that caused the door to stick. It only took the door staying closed for a second for air to get into the system and for the pump to lose its prime. I scraped off the small amount of cement on the edges of the door and haven't had a problem since.

 

[VA]

The garden hose is running in the pool as I write this. Hopefully, that will solve the air in the lines that I was experiencing even before the "vortex experience". I love an easy fix!! I'm headed out to carefully inspect the skimmer doors. Thanks for your time.